Dump truck slams home, killing 84-year-old ‘minding their own business,’ MO cops say

An 84-year-old man was killed and his wife seriously injured when a dump truck crashed into their Missouri home, authorities say.

Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers said the 70-year-old dump truck driver traveled off the side of an Owensville road around 9 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28, before striking a utility pole, parking post and tree.

The driver then crashed into a home, where it came to a rest and caused significant damage, photos show.

An 84-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene, according to highway patrol.

He was identified by his son as Donald Fuchs and was one day away from celebrating his 85th birthday, according to KSDK.

The man’s 82-year-old wife, Linda Fuchs, was also struck by the truck, suffering serious injuries, authorities said.

“Overwhelming. Devastating. The loss is ... we are all in shock,” family friend Michele Hardecke told KOMU.

It’s unclear what led to the truck driver running off the road. He was hospitalized with serious injuries, troopers said.

Hardecke said it’s not the first time the Fuchs’ home has been struck by a vehicle, telling KOMU there needs to be a solution to fix the issue.

“Anytime somebody passes away, it’s a tragedy,” Sgt. Kyle Green told KSDK. “Especially in a situation like this where somebody is just minding their own business inside their residence.”

Owensville is about an 80-mile drive southwest from St. Louis.

This story was originally published January 29, 2025 at 3:15 PM with the headline "Dump truck slams home, killing 84-year-old ‘minding their own business,’ MO cops say."